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Council confirms Matthew Smith as acting police chief after external panel review; some residents and speakers contested the process
Summary
The St. Helens City Council confirmed Sergeant Matthew Smith as acting police chief June 4 after an evaluation panel convened with outside chiefs and the county sheriff recommended him as the top candidate.
The St. Helens City Council moved June 4 to confirm Sergeant Matthew Smith as the city’s next police chief following an external, panel-based recruitment and evaluation process.
Ashley (city staff) told the council the city contracted with the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) to help design an independent recruitment process. The evaluation panel included two outside chiefs (chiefs from Canby and Wilsonville), Columbia County Sheriff Pixley, a representative of the St. Helens Police Officers Association, and Councilor Hubbard as the council liaison. The panel scored written responses and conducted interviews on May 29, and it rated Sergeant Matthew Smith as the top candidate.
Dan Tannell, representing the St. Helens Police Officers Association, told the council the association "overwhelmingly supported Matt…
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